“The bottom right drawer has a double brass lock.

Forty-three envelopes.

Some were yours to her, unopened, with faded airmail stamps.

Some were hers to you, returned with his signature on the refusal stamp.”

A waitress set two white mugs on the table and poured dark coffee without looking at us.

“Why didn’t Clare call me the day she found them?” I asked.

“Because Gerald controls her cell phone account,” David said.

“He pays the master bill through Ulette Insurance.